back for more chemo...arghhhh. God is in control!!

Nearly 5 weeks after surgery and I am doing well. Thanks again for your prayers and love!! Mom and my 12-year old niece have been here since the end of June and will stay until July 24th. We are so very blessed to have them here. I can't bear the thought of them leaving so soon! I must remind myself that God is in control and He will provide for our needs.

Most of the steri-strips (bandages) covering my stitches are gone – just the two end points remain tightly glued to my skin. The scar is very sensitive to clothing or anything touching it so I am looking for ideas regarding WHAT to put on my healing incision. I am looking for remedies that will help it heal quicker and leave less of a scar. Let me know if you have any remediesJ

I am still restricted on lifting, pushing and pulling for about 10 more days. I don't know how the surgeon finally decides to lift the ban but I look forward to being able to do a little more around the house!! I meet with her Monday July 23^rd.

David has been very mindful of my tummy and the fact that I cannot carry or lift him. So we compromise and I sit when he wants me to hold him and we just snuggle. He still asks to see the stitches and bandages on my tummy on occasion. Most peculiar is his fascination with the port in my chest. Even though we have explained what its job is, he still wants to "press the buttons" and feel it. Because it protrudes out from my thin skin, you can see the 3 little "bumps" on the unit and he wants to press each oneJ  

Tim and I were able to head north to some "cooler" temperatures for the 4th of July. We decided to visit dear friends who recently moved north to Logan, UT and then head to Twin Falls, ID. What a beautiful place!! Tim found us a lovely Bed & Breakfast Inn called The Fillmore Inn and it was simply divine. Just the two of us!! The Shoshone Falls were only 2 miles from us so we were able to be near "home" in case we needed to get me to a resting place. We walked a lot. Although I walk a pretty slow pace we covered a good amount of ground. It feels good to walk but after awhile my lower abdomen will remind me that it's time to rest. My back spasms are just about gone as my stomach muscles grow stronger. I am grateful for that!

I met with the oncologist a couple weeks ago and she said we will begin chemotherapy after the surgeon gives the ok that I have healed (well enough) from surgery. So we have scheduled chemo to start July 27^th . Mom and  Holly will leave the 24^thL. We are leaning on God to provide the helpers we need when we need them. I am ready for all this to be over!!! One would think that 5 treatments and major surgery would be the end of this battle but it's not. Unfortunately the oncologist reminded me that I will have to live with this cancer the rest of my life and our goal is to get it in remission. I am having a hard time getting that into my thick head!!

The oncologist is aiming for "3 chemo treatments – IF – my body responds positively," she says. I have been experiencing neuropathy (numbness in my feet) since treatment 4 and there is a chance it could increase with more chemo. So treatment options could change. Currently I am taking Vitamin B6 to help with the numbness. I don't feel much difference yet.

The surgery has left me with numbness on the top of my right thigh from my hip down to my knee. It's not totally numb but it feels like it is just waking up from being asleep. It's a strange feeling.

Below are pictures of our Fourth of July adventure - to Logan for time with friends and their participation in a rodeo! And our trip to Idaho...

There goes Sydney at the rodeo!

Prepping for the rodeo with mom, April.

Great way to spend the 4th of July -- at the rodeo with good freinds!!

Passing over Snake River in Idaho - God's glorious scenery

The scenery was much greener than the picture shows. We had 2 lovely days in ID.

The Shoshone Falls - Magnificent!!

Nice picnic spot overlooking the Shoshone Falls.

Table set for breakfast at The Fillmore Inn B&B

A wonderful gluten-free breakfast of home-made muffins,
fresh fruit, juice, waffles, and gorgeous weather! What a treat!

My brother and his family arrive on July 17. We are so excited to have so much family under one roof for 4 whole days!! I am grateful that we have a Michael W. Smith concert to go to on July 24^th – it will help me cope with the overwhelming feeling of everyone being gone. We have had someone at our home nearly everyday since we first got the news of cancer in January. We are so blessed to have family and friends willing to spend their time here with us. It will be lonely once mom and Holly leave. David will be stuck with mommy all day longJ

Thank you, thank you Jill!

I have been so very blessed to have my cousin Jill here for my recovery. So far it's going well. Tim has had the past 2 weeks off work too so I have had so much wonderful care!

We have been able to visit with many people, go for short and long walks, and do a little sight seeing. We went to the Temple Square, and to the Farmers Market downtown. How wonderful it has been to have my dear cousin to laugh with, to cry with, and to recuperate with. Thank you Jill for the sacrifice you made to come to Utah and care for me. Your time is a gift worth more to me than I can express. I love you dearly and thank you greatly:-)

It turned out that my incision was not 5-6" but rather the length of my entire abdomen. The surgeon gave me a hysterectomy, removed my spleen, my omentum and 11 lymph nodes. 

Tim had a hospital bed waiting for me at home which has been very helpful. Jill and Tim have alternated sleeping on the couch to help me through the night. I am now able to get up and out of bed myself. I am taking less pain medicine and able to move around. I still receive a shot each day to keep my blood from clotting; but that will end Saturday. I need to remember to rest each day. I am expecting a text from Jill each day to remind me, to rest and remind myself,  "I'm recovering."

My mom and niece Holly arrive tomorrow. We are so excited!!

Visit to the surgeon to have drainage tube removed.

Beautiful flowers, sorry I don't know how to turn
these pictures right side up

 

Jill prepping me for a shot. 

Jill teasing me that she was trying
 to carve her initials in my belly with each shot!!
Almost Jill:-)

Sorry I don't know how to turn this picture right side up.
Grateful we had a hospital bed at home!!

Jilly and me! Doin" the tourist thing!

My favorite guy in the world. Maaawaaaa! I love you Tim!

Getting ready to see the surgeon. One week after surgery.

Grueling work taking care of Deb!

God bless you Jolene! (one of the night shift nurses)

Homecoming!! 4 days after surgery.

Getting ready to leave the hospital

We miss you!

Thank you for coming Jill!! You are awesome!! 

Surgery and hospital experience

So I am finally at a point where I could only fantasize about being – past the surgery, past the initial surgery pain and into recovery at home. Just 2 weeks ago I wondered what it would be like to be at this stage…what would the surgery be like? The incision? The hospital? The nursing care? Will I need familiar faces at the hospital to support the professional help I will receive? How many days would it take me to get through any unbearable pain? Would there be unbearable pain? What would THAT feel like? What will the surgeon find, what will she remove and leave behind? How will David respond to me being gone? Will he miss me? Will he visit me in the hospital? Would the prognosis for a long life be different once they looked inside? 

Tim has been wonderful about keeping family and friends updated daily through text messaging. If you want to be added to that phone texting list, please let me know. I should have asked earlier…sorryL  E-mail me (daboggess@comcast.net) your phone number, call or text me. I want to make sure and stay in touch with people who are interested in staying in touch – whether by phone calls, texting, blog, e-mail or Facebook (which I am not a regular communicator).

Tim and I arrived at the hospital Tuesday morning at 6 a.m. – thankful that we had the first surgery appointment of the day. (Thank you Alyssa for coming at 5:20 a.m. to care for David all day!!) We prayed that the surgical team had had a good night's sleep and were fresh and ready for what was to come. Pastor Jim was already at the hospital waiting to send us off to surgery full of prayers and encouragement. I changed into hospital garb and Pastor John arrived. We had a few moments of God's Word and prayer before the nurses came into prep me. It really was all a blur. I remember talking to the anesthesiologist and surgeon about getting an epidural. As I now try to recall the epidural installation, I can't. I know I was awake for it but I cannot recall it. Thank God! Interesting how that remembering thing works.  The epidural was to be my source of pain relief/control until the catheter came out. Unfortunately it didn't turn out that way :-(

The surgery ended about 1:30 pm. The first thing I remember after surgery was P-A-I-N. I was in and out. Tim said "pain" was all I kept saying. Unfortunately I was alone in my room for about 1.5 hours after the recovery room because Tim was not informed that I had been moved to a roomL. How sad is that!? Where were the nurses? Why wasn't Tim informed? Were the nurses watching over me? Were they addressing my pain or needs? Did they only come into the room and see me sleeping? I am soooo glad I don't remembering being dropped off and left alone. God was watching over me:-)

The PAIN was terrible. Fortunately I kept falling back asleep. I had a bag of ice on my belly but didn't really know it, until a nurse asked about it the next day. I had no idea how the surgery went or how many stitches I had. I had been told a 5-6" incision would be made. All I kept saying was "PAIN". They could not figure out why I was having so much pain. From my understanding the nurses, the doctor, the PA – someone -- was trying to get hold of the anesthesiologist who had installed the epidural to get permission for more meds. No one could get hold of him and he was the only one who could prescribe more pain med through the epidural. L L L Tim said that I – from my blurred state of reality -- said, "Find that guy!" (I actually recall saying that and the pain of talking with an NG tube poking me in the throat!) As usual my demanding self was on guard!! It was about 5pm and finding someone after "business hours" had me concerned even in my stupor. I knew Tim had to leave to get David soon. Fortunately Tim had contacted our friend from small group Cheryl Ong and she came to stay with me for the remainder of the evening.

Finally permission was given for a different pain medication about 7 pm. I had the chest port catheter and the IV in my hand so there was plenty of access for medication—just had to get a doctor's permission. It was discovered that the epidural had fallen out or slipped out of position and that is why I was not getting any pain relief. L L L All I remember was asking Cheryl to pray for me. I am so grateful that Cheryl was with me – what a comfort having her watching over me, praying for me, feeding me ice chips, and working with the nurses! Thank you so much Cheryl!! Cheryl stayed until I felt comfortable enough to fall asleep and as late as she could manage – sleeping on the hospital pull out bed was worse than sleeping on the floor so she headed home about 3:30 a.m.

Even in my semi-conscious state I knew Tim wasn't coming back to the hospital until late Wednesday morning -- after Robyn had picked up David for playtime during Calvary's Women's Bible Study. (Thanks Robyn for taking David for the day!) Being at the hospital without a familiar face was not what I wanted but it was to be. Nurses came and went for the rest of the morning. I still had the NG tube, catheter and IVs.  The first few nurses I had made me cry. I wonder if they would have had more compassion if I had been their family member. Some nurses I actually had to tell them what to do. I remember asking 2 nurses who were standing at my bed waiting for me to get up, "Can you help me? Can you give me a little encouragement?" One replied robotically, "You're doing great," with her arms folded over her chest. Needless to say I needed prayer to be the one with compassion.

Yikes! This is not a 5" incision.

Pastor Jim (pictured) and Pastor John came to pray prior to surgery.

I remember Wednesday morning someone saying you have company! I couldn't quite turn my head enough to see but I said who is it? It was Mark Walker, from our small group. He was making his early morning work rounds at the hospital and stopped in as he had promised. I barely opened my eyes, but I remember asking Mark to pray for me. I asked him to call Tim for me to say hello and to see what time he was coming back to the hospital. I was so happy to see Mark! Thanks again for stopping by:-) 

I was allowed ice chips Wednesday and had visitors throughout the day. I remember seeing Pastor John and sharing my prayer request and concern of trying to be kind to those who seemed to have no compassion or concern of how to help me or help me to help myself.

I believe the catheter and NG tube came out Wednesday afternoon and I was allowed a liquid diet in the evening – like jello, broth, applesauce, juice. The catheter came out without any pain. The NG Tube felt like someone was ripping the inside of my nose out. Two weeks later my nose still bears a scab and occasionally my throat is sore when I swallow. Tim brought David to the hospital to visit me Wednesday – tubes and all. David did a great job and kept asking, what's this, what's that – all the time with a smile on his face. Cheryl came to stay with me a bit Wednesday evening as did Sandy. What a huge blessing my friends were!! After Cheryl left, Sandy played "Crazy Love" for me. I had read the first few chapters so it was familiar to me. We listened to one DVD. She prayed for me and I believe that was the night the nurses got me out of bed to walk a bit and go to the bathroom on my own. Waking up the bladder is sooooo much harder than I could imagine. THAT was painful.

Thursday was a day full of visitors. I remember having Karen West sit with me a couple hours, then seeing, Anne Marie, Diane, Alison, Rose, Alyssa, and my neighbors Stacy and Hannah. I was not a very good hostess – in and out of sleep but I was soooo glad to see familiar faces each time I woke up. What a great comfort to me. Thank you everyone for coming to visit. We had so many beautiful bouquets of flowers too!

Friday Tim picked up my cousin Jill from the airport. I can't remember who stayed with me, maybe Cheryl?  Jill, Tim and David came back to the hospital. I was so happy to see my cousin. What a relief! Jill and Tim had coordinated with my nurse(s) removal of IVs so that I could be released on Saturday. Tim had hoped for a Friday release.

We had "prayer" group instead of small group in the hospital room Friday night. That was so special. Kathy was there along with a couple others from small group. I don't remember much other than Bruce showing up later with my favorite dessert – coconut sorbet!!!). Then Mike W stopped by for a quick hello after a long week and long drive from work. We appreciate our small group so much!!  Thank you all for your love, prayers and support.

Jill stayed the night and helped manage my care. I remember walking the halls of the hospital during the night in order to get my bowels moving. We stopped by the newborn baby window and enjoyed the scenery of new babies. We prayed for the ability to pass gas and have a bowel movement. God quickly answered even the wackiest prayer!!


Someone came in bright and early, turned on the all the lights and announced he was going to draw blood. Luckily Jill interceded so that they wouldn't stick me in the arm again. I had the chest port from which nurses can draw blood so there was no need to get me in the arm again. (My veins aren't very cooperative because they wiggle, so blood draws can turn into 2, 3, sometimes 4 needle sticks.) 


I am so grateful to be home and have the surgery OVER!!! Praise the Lord I had some nurses and a CNA who were compassionate, mindful, encouraging and helpful. Thank you God for the friends and family you have given us. Thank you God for helping me through the hard parts of being in the hospital and for putting me on the road of quick recovery. Thank you for providing an army of prayer warriors to keep me protected in Your arms. Thank you that I only had to be in the hospital 5 days. It already seems like so long ago.


We have a long road ahead of us, but we are plugging along. We met with the surgeon's nurse a couple days after being released from the hospital. The drainage tube in my side was pulled out. Hah - she said this won't hurt but I begged to differ with her...it wasn't her body that she was pulling the tube from!!


We meet with the oncologist next week (the 28th) to see when chemo will resume. I continue to ask for and appreciate your prayers. Much love to you

Sister visit!!

 My sister, Michele, came for a visit and helped me get a few things done on my "To Do" list before surgery. She was able to stay a week and I am so grateful. Thank you Michele for overhauling the guest bathroom in the basement. It looks beautiful!! My Moroccan bathroom...aaah! - bright yellow with hand-made-framed photographs from Ingrid. The basement is now a beautiful retreat for out guests!

Thanks Aunt Michele for the
Veggie Tales  Garden Kit!

A nice evening out at The Cheesecake Factory!!

Just a few more days until surgery. I am doing great! I have 100% confidence in whatever God has planned for me. I also have 100% confidence in the surgeon. She has had my PET scan reviewed for the lymph node under my right arm. The radiologist cannot see that it has grown at all so there is no need for surgery there! That is a blessing. The surgeon said we just need to monitor it manually on a regular basis.

My youngest sister Michele was here for a week and THAT was truly a blessing!! I hadn't seen her in a year. She was a huge help.

I have quite a list of things I want to finish before surgery...it's like preparing to go on vacation---and coming home to a clean house. So she was able to get some big items checked off that "To Do" list. She painted the bathroom in the basement and rearranged the furniture so it looks like a little apartment downstairs!! She is so talented.

My cousin is coming Friday 8th. My mom booked her ticket for June 19th. She will come with my niece Holly, who can hardly wait to be David's caregiver!! My oldest and only brother, Mark, and his family (Alice, Taylor and Jenn) will be here mid July and stay a week. I am so excited!! Knowing we have visitors coming will hopefully cause me to deal with the healing pains better and recover quicker!!

Hard to imagine that next week this time, I will be finished with surgery and onto a new phase of cancer/cancer treatment. We are still praying the doctor can get all the tumors (large and microscopic). I can't imagine how this surgery is going to make me feel -- the day-to-day pain -- when I feel so good today. They are still saying 3-7 days in the hospital. I pray I can be a Light to others while in the hospital and I hope for opportunities to tell of the hope I have in Jesus my redeemer.

Monday I begin surgery prep by drinking clear liquids only, go to the hospital for blood work, and registration, and then begin drinking massive amounts of bowel cleansers! Tim is busy putting in lots of extra hours at work so he can be with me next week during surgery and the week after.

Thanks again for your prayers and we look forward to a successful surgery and recovery:-)

Surgery June 5th

We are praising God once again! No matter the outcome we will praise our Lord!

Last Monday's meeting with the oncologist went better than expected. The PET and CT scans showed further reduction of the tumors. The tumors have shrunk more than 50%!!

Deb's CA125 is 153 (normal range is 0-35), but it has gone down from 1,675.  

A meeting with the GYN oncologist surgeon today went very well too! She was very pleased with the progress of the chemotherapy. She says this is a good time for surgery ("debulking") and it seems that it will be less invasive than originally thought!! The surgery will be Tuesday June 5^th. It will be an open surgery with a vertical incision about 5-6". The uterus, the cervix, the ovaries and maybe the spleen will be removed. It looks like the bowel may be able to stay intact but she won't know until she goes in. Originally we were looking at removal of a large percentage if not all of the bowel, so this is great news to us!! The small lump under the right arm is still questionable so the surgeon is having the scans reviewed again to see if surgery in that area is necessary. If it is, then she will have a surgeon on hand who specializes in that area. The surgeon will also confer with the oncologist to see about installing a port directly into the peritonea so when chemo resumes it will go directly into the abdomen.

Deb will be at St. Mark's in Salt Lake City for 3-6 days. At home recovery looks like 2 to 6 weeks. We have been blessed with helpers the week of surgery, the week after surgery and the month of July!! Deb's cousin, Jill, will come out June 8-18th and then Deb's mom and niece, Holly, will come after to help care for Deb and David. We are celebrating David's birthday on May 31st -- he will be three!! We are so excited!!

After recovering from surgery (about 4-6 weeks) chemotherapy will resume. We don't know how many treatments so we will need helpers during that time too. Such a long ordeal!! Again we are praising God for such wonderful news.

We appreciate you all so very much for keeping us in your prayers. So many words of encouragement and prayers have helped us through dark times. We rest in joy and peace because we are confident that our Lord is in control … we pray that His will be done through our lives and this terrible disease!!

 Love and blessings,

 Tim, Deb and David

Waiting for the Doctor

I had a PET scan and CT scan yesterday (Tuesday). Everything went well but we won't have results until the doctor has time to view them. The oncologist is going to review the scans, talk with the GYN oncologist surgeon and then meet with me on Monday, May 21st. I AM a bit nervous to hear the news, but look forward to moving forward.

I feel like I am on vacation - no chemo this week!! Yippee!! Each day is different. Mother's Day started great and ended in nonstop crying. I feel like a different person today, it has been a glorious day. Thank you Lord!!

Mom left Wednesday before Mother's Day. We were very sad to see her go, but she had been here nearly 5 weeks so she had to return home to take care of business and live her life!! We are glad to know that she will be returning as the need arises. God has been so gracious to provide friends to stop by and help out with David, provide scrumptious meals, and check in on me. Thanks to so many wonderful people this week and last. We really appreciate each and every one of you!!

Blessings to you all!! Thanks for prayers for the Roundtree family. Steven is finishing his chemo this Friday and his protein count is within the low to normal range so he gets to ring the bell at the chemo center!! Thank you Lord!!!

Another young man at church - Biff is struggling with cancer. He recently had surgery and now the tumors are back growing in his liver and it is inoperable. Please keep his wife and kids in your prayers. It's a horrible road to travel. Thanks